Fold retaining device for cloth laying machines



Dec. 11, 1962 E. 'rHEoDoslou FOLD RETAINING DEVICE FOR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Filed Aug. '7, 1961 3,067,996 FOLD RETAIPJING DEVICE FR CLOTH LAYING MACHINES Emmanuel Theodosiou, New York, NX., assigner to Cutting Room Appliance Corp., New York, NX., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,584 6 Claims. (Cl. 270-31) This invention relates generally to the field of cloth laying machines used for the purpose of depositing a plurality of layers of cloth in superimposed relation, to enable a large number of shaped cloth pieces employed in the fabrication of a garment to be simultaneously cut according to a predetermined pattern, and more particularly to an improved fold-retaining device used in conjunction therewith. Fold-retaining devices, generally, are well-known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details permitting facilitated and improved operation.

lt is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide improved means for reciprocating the cloth-engaging element of the fold-retaining device exactly in a vertical plane, whereby each fold formed may be in aligned relation with respect to a previously formed fold disposed therebeneath.

Another object of the invention lies in the Provision of an improved fold-retaining device in which the side frame elements thereof are interconnected by elongated means spanning the cloth laying table substantially only at the upper portion thereof, to define a large clear area disposed therebeneath into Which the cloth laying carriage may project, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the fold-retaining a device during the dropping of sizes normally occurring during a cloth laying operation.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision `of an improved automatic locking means which will engage the movable parts automatically at the uppermost limit of their path of travel, which means may be conveniently manually disengaged at the commencement of a new cloth laying operation.

Another feature of the invention lies in the wide adaptability of the disclosed fold-retaining device to operation with existing cloth laying carriages with only minor, if any, modification.

These objects and features, as Well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to Which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a side elvational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan View thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational View thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in elevation, of the supporting arm locking element which comprises a part of the embodiment.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a pair of frame elements 11, a plurality of supporting arm elements 12, a cloth-engaging element 13, a plurality of levelling elements 14, and a supporting arm locking element 15.

The frame elements 11 are substantially similar and symmetrical, each including a base member 19 having a forward flange 20 thereon threadedly supporting an adjustable stop member 21 of a type well-known in the art,

the stop member 21 serving to arrest movement of a cloth-laying carriage, the details of which form no part ot' the present disclosure. Interconnected at right angles to the base member 19 is a side plate member 22 bounded by an inner surface 23, an outer surface 24, a forward edge 2S, a rearward edge 26, an upper edge 27 and a lower edge 28 which forms a junction with the base member 19. The frame elements 11 are preferably formed by casting of light-weight material, but also may be formed by welding together stamped parts. In the interest of lighter weight, an opening 29 may be provided, as is a horizontally disposed guiding slot 36, the purpose of which will more fully appear. interconnecting rods 31 and 32 extend through the plate members 22, and are secured by bolt means 33.

The supporting arm elements 12 are preferably two in number, each including a rigid arm member 35, and a cam guide member 36.

The arm member 35 includes a first portion 42 having a transverse bore 43 at one end thereof engaged by a needle bearing engagement means 44 selectively contacted by an operating cam 45, which forms a part of the clothlaying carriage, in well-known manner. The first portion 42 is in pendant relation with respect to a relatively long incline portion 46, formed integrally with an offset portion 47 and a generally horizontally disposed portion 48. The portion 48 includes an enlarged boss 49 of split type engaging a guiding shaft Sil maintained in compressed condition by nut and bolt 51-52.

The cam member 36 is preferably machined from fiat metal stock, and includes an inner surface 55, an outer surface 56, and a regular periphery S7. A bore 59 accommodates the shaft 6i) which also extends into the horizontal guiding slot 30 in the element 11 adjacent thereto. A second bore 6u accommodates threaded meansv 61 which engages a corresponding bore 62 in the portion 4S to prevent all relative movement between the members 35 and 36. As best seen in FIGURE l, a cam slot 63 extends between the surfaces 5S and 56, including a first portion 64 extending from a point indicated by reference character 65 to a point indicated by reference character 66, as well as a second portion 67 which extends from point 66 to a third point 68. A cam profile follower 69 engages the cam slot 63 and is fixed within a threaded bore 7@ in the frame element 11. The rst portion 64 of the slot 63 is in the form of a segment of a limicon, a geometric shape also known as a cardioid, the prole of which may be determined kinematically by drawing the device full scale and moving the supporting arm elements 12 in planar motion such that the center of the engagement means 44 moves vertically upward while the shaft Sil executes purely horizontal motion. The length of the limicon portion 64 is determined by the practical limits of the height to which the means 44 can be lifted in a straight line, and when this point has been reached, the second portion 67 is commenced which is an arcuate curve having its center coaxial with the shaft 50.

The cloth-engaging element 13.is of elongated configuration; and extends with its principal axis across the cloth-laying table (not shown), as is well-known in the art. It includes a pair of supporting brackets 76, a laterally extending bar 77 having bores 78 and counterbores 79 as well as supporting pintle members 80. The pintle members S0 include an enlarged portion 81 corresponding to the diameter of the counterbore 79 and relatively narrow portions 82 corresponding to the diameter of the bores 78. Depending from the portions 82 is a supported plate 84 having a rubber gripping member 85 secured to the lower surface thereof, the lower surface 86 of which engages the folds of cloth (not shown).

The supporting brackets 76 are provided with bores 87 at the upper ends of vertically extending portions 88, the

Patentes nee. 11, 1962 bores being engaged by pintles 89 which also engage the member 37 to permit relative pivotal motion therebetween.

The levelling elements 14 are also preferably two in number, and are associated with the support arm elements 12 for the purpose of maintaining the cloth-engaging element 13 in the angular orientation shown in FIGURE l as the arm elements 12 and 13 are raised and lowered. They are substantially similar, and include the linkage members 37 and 38, best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 in the drawings. The member 37 is generally elongated in configuration, including a rst end 91 having a bore 90 therein engaging the pintle S9, and a second end 92 having a bore 93 engaged by pintle 94. The member 38 is generally triangular in form, including side edges 96, 97 and 98, and having a bore 99 therein engaged by follower pin 100, and another `bore 101 engaging the guiding shaft 50. The pin 100 rides with the shaft 50 in the slot 36, and from a consideration of FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be apparent that the end 92 of the member 37 must execute only horizontal motion during the raising and the lowering of the supporting arm elements 12. As this motion is transmitted directly to the cloth-engag- `ing element 13, it follows that the angular orientation of the element 13 wih respect to the frame elements 11 is maintained constant during the period in which the tirst portion 64 of the cam slot 63 is engaged by the cam profile follower 69.

The locking element 15 constitutes optional construction, and serves to lock the supporting arm elements 12 in their uppermost limit of travel, at which time the follower 69 is engaged with the second arcuate portion 67 of the slot 63. It includes a housing 103 secured to the inner surface 23 of a side plate member 22, the housing having a bore 104 and a counterbore 105 therein. The bore 104 is engaged by a threaded plug 106 having a bore 107 therein which slidably supports a locking pintle 108 having handle means 109 thereon. A collar 110 on the pintle 108 transmits the motion ol' a spring 111 to urge the inner end of the pintle 108 to an outward condition wherein the same may engage a bore 113 in the cam member 36. The pintle S is manually disengaged when it is desired to place the device in operation at the commencement of a cloth laying operation.

During operation, minor irregularities in the surface of the table will be compensated for by the flexibility of the supported plate 84 which is of relatively thin gauge metal, and is resiliently urged downwardly at a large number of points. In keeping with its adaptability for lightweight fabrics, no projecting pins engage the surface of the folds of cloth, thereby eliminating all possibility of ripping or other damage with successive deposition of cloth layers.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A fold-retaining device for use with a cloth-laying machine comprising: a frame element, at least one elongated supporting arm element connected to said frame element and arranged for combined rotational and translational planar motion with respect thereto substantially at one end thereof, a laterally extending cloth-engaging element pivotally supported by said supporting arm element substantially at a second end thereof, and cam guiding means having a limiconic profile interconnecting said frame element and said supporting arm element limiting said planar motion to a path of travel in which said second end executes only translational motion.

2. A fold-retaining device for use with a cloth-laying machine comprising: a frame element, at least one elongated supporting arm element connected to said frame element and arranged for combined rotational and translational planar motion with respect thereto substantially at one end thereof, a laterally extending cloth-engaging element pivotally supported by said supporting arm element substantially at a second end thereof, guiding means interconnecting said frame element and said supporting arm element limiting said planar motion to a path of travel in which said second end executes only translational motion; and locking means for retaining said sup porting arm element at one limit of its path of travel.

3. A fold-retaining device for use with a cloth-laying machine comprising: a frame element, at least one elongated supporting arm element connected to said frame element and arranged for combined rotational and translational planar motion with respect thereto substantially at one end thereof, a laterally extending cloth-engaging element pivotally supported by said supporting arm element substantially at a second end thereof, cam guiding means having a limiconic profile interconnecting said frame element and said supporting arm element limiting said planar motion to a path of travel in which said second end executes only translational motion; and locking means for retaining Said supporting arm element at one limit of its path of travel.

4. A fold-retaining device for use with a cloth-laying machine comprising: a frame element, at least one elongated supporting arm element connected to said frame element and arranged for combined rotational and translational planar motion with respect thereto substantially at one end thereof, a laterally extending cloth-engaging element pivotally supported by said supporting arm element substantially at a second end thereof, guiding means interconnecting said frame element and said supporting arm element limiting said planar motion to a path of travel in which said second end executes only translational motion; and linkage means interconnecting said clothengaging element and said first end of said supporting arm element for maintaining said cloth-engaging element in constant relation with respect to said frame element during movement of said supporting arm element.

5. In a fold-retaining device for use with a cloth-laying machine, a pair of frame elements, at least one member interconnecting said frame elements in substantially parallel disposition, a plurality of supporting arms movably interconnected for planar motion with respect to Said frame element, said elongated connecting member being engaged with said frame elements substantially at the level of interconnection of said frame elements to said supporting arms to leave a substantially clear area therebeneath and between said frame elements.

6. In a fold-retaining device for use with a cloth-laying machine, a pair of frame elements, at least one member interconnecting said frame elements, a plurality of supporting arms movably interconnected for planar motion with respect to said frame elements, said elongated con necting member being engaged with said frame elements substantially only at an upper portion thereof to leave a substantially clear area therebeneath and between said frame elements.

Booth Jan. 30, 1951 Bax lune 11, 1957 

